The Mediator of RNA polymerase II

Authors: Erik Blazek Gerhard Mittler Michael Meisterernst

Publish Date: 2005/02/03

Volume: 113, Issue: 8, Pages: 399-408

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Abstract

Mediator TRAP/ARC/PC2 is a large 22–28 subunit protein complex that binds RNA polymerase II and controls transcription from class II genes The evolutionarily conserved core of Mediator is found in all eukaryotes It binds RNA polymerase II and is probably critical for basal transcription but it also mediates activation and repression of transcription During evolution the complex has acquired additional speciesspecific subunits These serve as an interface for regulatory factors and support specific signalling pathways Recent mechanistic studies are consistent with the hypothesis that Mediator marks genes for binding by RNA polymerase II whereupon it subsequently activates the preinitiation complex It is further likely that Mediator coordinates the recruitment of chromatinmodifying cofactor activitiesWe are grateful to Sally Rushton for critical reading of the manuscript This work was supported by grants from the DFG the TMR research training program of the EC HPRNCT200200261 and the BMBF proteomics platform technology program 031U101F and 0313030A to MM

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